Property expert Phil Spencer tells Nora Cleeve why he’s privileged to be part of people’s search for a new home.

Finding a dream home that ticks all the boxes can be a minefield. But get Phil Spencer and sidekick Kirstie Allsopp on the case and it’s virtually in the bag.


For six years the no-nonsense double act, who are business partners off-screen too, have been scouring the country for battle-weary buyers on Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location.

In fact, a move into TV wasn’t really on the cards for Phil.

“I got a call out of the blue from Channel 4, who had conjured up the concept for a show,” he explains. “Trouble was they didn’t know anything about buying property, so they asked me and five others to come in and consult for half an hour.”

Cue Kirstie who, like Phil, was one of a tiny brigade back in the ’90s offering an independent property search service for house buyers. Phil and Kirstie were asked to help make a pilot show and a hit series was born. 

“We knew of each other professionally and had a great deal of mutual respect, but my first impression was that she was barking mad,” Phil says in his trademark deadpan fashion.

And now? 

“Now I am probably more confident that she is barking mad,” he chuckles.

Phil looks immaculate in the flesh, from his pristine designer suit down to his monogrammed leather briefcase, and beneath that plummy accent and public school boy demeanour is a real warmth and cheekiness.

But he would be the first to admit that where Kirstie is gushing and bold, he is calm and measured. 

“We are completely different. She is either really excited or really hacked off, which is great viewing, while I am more on a level.

“She can fall in love with a house on somebody else’s behalf, while I will be saying ‘yes, but you wanted it to do a, b, and c.’”

The two bring different talents to the table. 

“Kirstie has a fantastic architectural and historical knowledge — which I don’t — and she is highly emotional about property — which I’m not. We get on very well, we just tackle things in different ways. Property is an emotional purchase so from a client perspective I’m better for the structural and maintenance side, whereas she is better at interiors.”

It’s clear Phil and Kirstie are friends off-screen, but is there anything more? 

“There have been some weird and wonderful stories written about me and Kirstie over the years,” sighs Phil. “No matter what we said the media were convinced we were together and couldn’t understand why we bothered to keep denying it.

“Then my wife had a baby and the story was that Kirstie and I hated each other and haven’t spoken in years,” he shrugs. “I don’t know where it will end up but I’m sure it will keep going.”

Tears and tantrums are reserved for the buyers on the show.

“It does get emotional and we have had loads of tears, both happy and sad,” Phil continues. “There were six programmes in one series with tears in every show, and we have just filmed one episode with tears of joy followed by another with tears of great frustration. It is a real process, which is why it’s fun to be involved in it — and hopefully fun to watch. I’ve always thought it’s a privilege to be involved in those journeys.”

But doesn’t Phil want to tear out what little hair he has left when his words go in one ear and out the other? 

“It does get frustrating when people generally aren’t taking our advice and we’re giving it in the best possible way. But it is their money, and not mine. If they don’t listen to my advice, then so be it. I am not going to lose sleep over it. They are the ones who need the home.”

With runaway housing prices, there is a lot at stake. 

“It is fun but I am very aware that it’s a lot of pound notes and I’m never flippant with people’s money.”

In their other show Relocation, Relocation, Phil and Kirstie have to find both a country pile and pied-a-terre for buyers. So how do they divide the spoils? 

“We alternate between choosing the big and small property, but, if I’m doing the small one, Kirstie inevitably spends too much money and leaves me with crumbs! That’s happened numerous times,” he laughs, shaking his head. 

Yet, however picky the buyers, the show often comes up trumps. 

“A lot of people come on the show not expecting us to sort it out and if we crack it very early on, we like to show them an amazing property that isn’t what they were after, just to confuse them. But sometimes it’s our job to take people around the houses to figure out what they really want.”

When a couple decides to sleep on it, Phil and Kirstie are left in suspense. “We do have bets between us, but Kirstie normally wins because people follow their hearts.”

Phil’s mum is the show’s number one fan. 

“She is a constant reminder of how often the show can be seen on telly, with repeats on satellite most nights. After watching an episode filmed in Sheffield, for example, she’ll ask me how my week went in Sheffield. I say, ‘Mum, I was in Croydon this week, we filmed Sheffield three years ago’.

“Even after six years she hasn’t quite adjusted to the time delay!”

The show is a Scottish production, put together in Glasgow, and Phil would love to do more Scottish property searches. 

“We only go where we’re asked to go, but we would both love to come to the west coast of Scotland. Scotland is one of Kirstie’s favourite places in the world and she’s spent a lot of time there. I’ve only scratched the surface.”

Despite helping other people to move and improve, Phil isn’t a serial mover himself. 

“I hate moving. It’s too stressful,” he insists. “I have invested in and developed properties but I have only lived in three houses.”

In fact, he is just recovering from a house move.

“I only looked at one house but I was very clear about where I wanted to live.

“Last time it came down to two roads, and only one side of those two roads. This time I only looked at one road and spoke to the three estate agents that dealt in that area.”

In Phil’s case, it really was all about location, location, location.